James Tour

Tour received degrees from Syracuse University (BS, 1981), Purdue University (PhD, 1986 under Ei-ichi Negishi) and completed postdoctoral work at the University of Wisconsin–Madison (1986–1987) and Stanford University (1987–1988).{{Cite web|url=https://www.jmtour.com/|title=James M Tour Group}}

Tour's work is primarily focused on carbon materials chemistry and nanotechnology. Tour's work on carbon materials encompasses fullerene purification,{{cite journal | last1 = Scrivens | first1 = W. A. | last2 = Tour | first2 = J. M. | year = 1992| title = Synthesis of Gram Quantities of C₆₀ by Plasma Discharge in a Modified Round-Bottomed Flask. Key Parameters for Yield Optimization and Purification | journal = J. Org. Chem. | volume = 1992 | issue = 57| pages = 6932–6936 | doi=10.1021/jo00051a047}}{{cite journal | last1 = Scrivens | first1 = W. A. | last2 = Bedworth | first2 = P. V. | last3 = Tour | first3 = J. M. | year = 1992| title = Purification of Gram Quantities of C₆₀. A New Inexpensive and Facile Method | journal = J. Am. Chem. Soc. | volume = 1992 | issue = 114| pages = 7917–7919 | doi=10.1021/ja00046a051| bibcode = 1992JAChS.114.7917S }} composites,{{cite journal | last1 = Higginbotham | first1 = A. L. | last2 = Moloney | first2 = P. G. | last3 = Waid | first3 = M. C. | last4 = Duque | first4 = J. G. | last5 = Kittrell | first5 = C. | last6 = Schmidt | first6 = H. K. | last7 = Stephenson | first7 = J. J. | last8 = Arepalli | first8 = S. | last9 = Yowell | first9 = L. L. | last10 = Tour | first10 = J. M. | year = 2008 | title = Carbon Nanotube Composite Curing Through Absorption of Microwave Radiation | journal = Composites Sci. Tech. | volume = 68 | issue = 15–16| pages = 3087–3092 | doi=10.1016/j.compscitech.2008.07.004}}{{cite journal | last1 = Mitchell | first1 = C. A. | last2 = Bahr | first2 = J. L. | last3 = Arepalli | first3 = S. | last4 = Tour | first4 = J. M. | last5 = Krishnamoorti | first5 = R. | year = 2002 | title = Dispersion of Functionalized Carbon Nanotubes in Polystyrene | journal = Macromolecules | volume = 35 | issue = 23| pages = 8825–8830 | doi=10.1021/ma020890y| bibcode = 2002MaMol..35.8825M }} conductive inks for radio frequencies identification tags,Jung, M.; Kim, J.; Noh, J.; Lim, N.; Lim, C.; Lee, G.; Kim, J.; Kang, H.; Jung, K.; Leonard, A.; Pyo, M.; Tour, J. M.; Cho, G. "All Printed and Roll-to-Roll Printable 13.56 MHz Operated 1-bit RF Tag on Plastic Foils," IEEE Trans. Elect. Dev 1 2010, 57, 571-580.{{cite journal | last1 = Noh | first1 = J. | last2 = Jung | first2 = M. | last3 = Jung | first3 = K. | last4 = Lee | first4 = G. | last5 = Lim | first5 = S. | last6 = Kim | first6 = D. | last7 = Kim | first7 = S. | last8 = Tour | first8 = J. M. | last9 = Cho | first9 = G. | year = 2011 | title = Integrable single walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) network based thin film transistors using roll-to-roll gravure and inkjet | journal = Org. Electronics | volume = 12 | issue = 12| pages = 2185–2191 | doi=10.1016/j.orgel.2011.09.006}} carbon nanoreporters for identifying oil downhole,{{cite journal | last1 = Berlin | first1 = J. M. | last2 = Yu | first2 = J. | last3 = Lu | first3 = W. | last4 = Walsh | first4 = E. E. | last5 = Zhang | first5 = L. | last6 = Zhang | first6 = P. | last7 = Chen | first7 = W. | last8 = Kan | first8 = A. T. | last9 = Wong | first9 = M. S. | last10 = Tomson | first10 = M. B. | last11 = Tour | first11 = J. M. | year = 2011| title = Engineered Nanoparticles for Hydrocarbon Detection in Oil-field Rocks | journal = Energy Environ Sci | volume = 2011 | issue = 4| pages = 505–509 | doi=10.1039/c0ee00237b| bibcode = 2011EnEnS...4..505B }}{{cite journal | last1 = Hwang | first1 = C.-C. | last2 = Wang | first2 = L. | last3 = Lu | first3 = W. | last4 = Ruan | first4 = G. | last5 = Kini | first5 = G. C. | last6 = Xiang | first6 = C. | last7 = Samuel | first7 = E. L. G. | last8 = Shi | first8 = W. | last9 = Kan | first9 = A. T. | last10 = Wong | first10 = M. S. | last11 = Tomson | first11 = M. B. | last12 = Tour | first12 = J. M. | year = 2012| title = Highly Stable Carbon Nanoparticles Designed for Downhole Hydrocarbon Detection | journal = Energy Environ Sci | volume = 2012 | issue = 5| pages = 8304–8309 | doi = 10.1039/c2ee21574h | bibcode = 2012EnEnS...5.8304H }} graphene synthesis from cookies and insects,{{cite journal | last1 = Ruan | first1 = G. | last2 = Sun | first2 = Z. | last3 = Peng | first3 = Z. | last4 = Tour | first4 = J. M. | year = 2011 | title = Growth of Graphene from Food, Insects, and Waste | journal = ACS Nano | volume = 5 | issue = 9| pages = 7601–7607 | doi=10.1021/nn202625c| pmid = 21800842 }} graphitic electronic devices,{{cite journal | last1 = Sinitskii | first1 = A. | last2 = Tour | first2 = J. M. | year = 2009 | title = Lithographic Graphitic Memories | journal = ACS Nano | volume = 3 | issue = 9| pages = 2760–2766 | doi=10.1021/nn9006225| pmid = 19719147 }}{{cite journal | last1 = Li | first1 = Y. | last2 = Sinitskii | first2 = A. | last3 = Tour | first3 = J. M. | year = 2008 | title = Electronic Two-Terminal Bistable Graphitic Memories | journal = Nature Materials | volume = 7 | issue = 12| pages = 966–971 | doi=10.1038/nmat2331| pmid = 19011617 | bibcode = 2008NatMa...7..966L }} carbon particle drug delivery for treatment of traumatic brain injury,{{cite journal | last1 = Sano | first1 = D. | last2 = Berlin | first2 = J. M. | last3 = Pham | first3 = T. T. | last4 = Marcano | first4 = D. C. | last5 = Valdecanas | first5 = D. R. | last6 = Zhou | first6 = G. | last7 = Milas | first7 = L. | last8 = Myers | first8 = J. N. | last9 = Tour | first9 = J. M. | year = 2012 | title = Noncovalent Assembly of Targeted Carbon Nanovectors Enables Synergistic Drug and Radiation Cancer Therapy in Vivo | journal = ACS Nano | volume = 6 | issue = 3| pages = 2497–2505 | doi = 10.1021/nn204885f | pmid = 22316245 | pmc = 3314092 }}{{cite journal | last1 = Sharpe | first1 = M. A. | last2 = Marcano | first2 = D. C. | last3 = Berlin | first3 = J. M. | last4 = Widmayer | first4 = M. A. | last5 = Baskin | first5 = D. S. | last6 = Tour | first6 = J. M. | year = 2012 | title = Antibody-Targeted Nanovectors for the Treatment of Brain Cancers | journal = ACS Nano | volume = 6 | issue = 4| pages = 3114–3120 | doi = 10.1021/nn2048679 | pmid = 22390360 }} the merging of 2D graphene with 1D nanotubes to make a conjoined hybrid material,{{cite journal | last1 = Zhu | first1 = Y. | last2 = Li | first2 = L. | last3 = Zhang | first3 = C. | last4 = Casillas | first4 = G. | last5 = Sun | first5 = Z. | last6 = Yan | first6 = Z. | last7 = Ruan | first7 = G. | last8 = Peng | first8 = Z. | last9 = Raji | first9 = A.-R. O. | last10 = Kittrell | first10 = C. | last11 = Hauge | first11 = R. H. | last12 = Tour | first12 = J. M. | year = 2012 | title = A Seamless Three-Dimensional Carbon Nanotube Graphene Hybrid Material | journal = Nature Communications | volume = 3 | page = 1225 | doi = 10.1038/ncomms2234 | pmid = 23187625 | bibcode = 2012NatCo...3.1225Z | doi-access = free }} a new graphene-nanotube 2D material called rebar graphene,{{cite journal | last1 = Yan | first1 = Z. | last2 = Peng | first2 = Z. | last3 = Casillas | first3 = G. | last4 = Lin | first4 = J. | last5 = Xiang | first5 = C. | last6 = Zhou | first6 = H. | last7 = Yang | first7 = Y. | last8 = Ruan | first8 = G. | last9 = Raji | first9 = A.-R. O. | last10 = Samuel | first10 = E. L. G. | last11 = Hauge | first11 = R. H. | last12 = Yacaman | first12 = M. J. | last13 = Tour | first13 = J. M. | year = 2014 | title = Rebar Graphene | journal = ACS Nano | volume = 8| issue = 5| pages = 5061–5068| doi = 10.1021/nn501132n | pmid = 24694285 | pmc = 4046778 }} graphene quantum dots from coal,{{cite journal | last1 = Ye | first1 = R. | last2 = Xiang | first2 = C. | last3 = Lin | first3 = J. | last4 = Peng | first4 = Z. | last5 = Huang | first5 = K. | last6 = Yan | first6 = Z. | last7 = Cook | first7 = N. P. | last8 = Samuel | first8 = E. L. G. | last9 = Hwang | first9 = C.-C. | last10 = Ruan | first10 = G. | last11 = Ceriotti | first11 = G. | last12 = Raji | first12 = A.-R. O. | last13 = Martí | first13 = A. A. | last14 = Tour | first14 = J. M. | year = 2013 | title = Coal as an Abundant Source of Graphene Quantum Dots | journal = Nature Communications| volume = 4 | issue = 2943| pages = 1–6 | doi = 10.1038/ncomms3943 | pmid=24309588| bibcode = 2013NatCo...4.2943Y | doi-access = free }} gas barrier composites,{{cite journal | last1 = Xiang | first1 = C. | last2 = Cox | first2 = P. J. | last3 = Kukovecz | first3 = A. | last4 = Genorio | first4 = B. | last5 = Hashim | first5 = D. P. | last6 = Yan | first6 = Z. | last7 = Peng | first7 = Z. | last8 = Hwang | first8 = C.-C. | last9 = Ruan | first9 = G. | last10 = Samuel | first10 = E. L. G. | last11 = Sudeep | first11 = P. M. | last12 = Konya | first12 = Z. | last13 = Vajtai | first13 = R. | last14 = Ajayan | first14 = P. M. | last15 = Tour | first15 = J. M. | year = 2013 | title = Functionalized Low Defect Graphene Nanoribbons and Polyurethane Composite Film for Improved Gas Barrier and Mechanical Performances | url =http://publicatio.bibl.u-szeged.hu/4116/1/2437334.pdf | journal = ACS Nano | volume = 7 | issue = 11| pages = 10380–10386 | doi = 10.1021/nn404843n | pmid = 24102568 }} graphene nanoribbon deicing films,{{cite journal | last1 = Volman | first1 = V. | last2 = Zhu | first2 = Y. | last3 = Raji | first3 = A.-R. | last4 = Genorio | first4 = B. | last5 = Lu | first5 = W. | last6 = Xiang | first6 = C. | last7 = Kittrell | first7 = C. | last8 = Tour | first8 = J. M. | year = 2014 | title = Radio-Frequency-Transparent, Electrically Conductive Graphene Nanoribbon Thin Films as Deicing Heating Layers | journal = ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces | volume = 6 | issue = 1| pages = 298–304 | doi = 10.1021/am404203y | pmid = 24328320 }} supercapacitors and battery device structures,{{cite journal | last1 = Yang | first1 = Y. | last2 = Fan | first2 = X. | last3 = Casillas | first3 = G. | last4 = Peng | first4 = Z. | last5 = Ruan | first5 = G. | last6 = Wang | first6 = G. | last7 = Yacaman | first7 = M. J. | last8 = Tour | first8 = J. M. | year = 2014 | title = Three-Dimensional Nanoporous Fe2O3/Fe3C Graphene Heterogeneous Thin Films for Lithium-Ion Batteries | pmc= 4004288 | journal = ACS Nano | volume = 8 | issue = 4| pages = 3939–3946 | doi = 10.1021/nn500865d | pmid = 24669862 }}{{cite journal | last1 = Zhang | first1 = C. | last2 = Peng | first2 = Z. | last3 = Lin | first3 = J. | last4 = Zhu | first4 = Y. Ruan | last5 = Hwang | first5 = C.-C. | last6 = Lu | first6 = W. | last7 = Hauge | first7 = R. H. | last8 = Tour | first8 = J. M. | year = 2013 | title = Splitting of a Vertical Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube Carpet to a Graphene Nanoribbon Carpet and Its Use in Supercapacitors | journal = ACS Nano | volume = 7 | issue = 6| pages = 5151–5159 | doi = 10.1021/nn400750n | pmid = 23672653 }} and water splitting to H₂ and O₂ using metal chalcogenides.{{cite journal | last1 = Lin | first1 = J. | last2 = Peng | first2 = Z. | last3 = Wang | first3 = G. | last4 = Zakhidov | first4 = D. | last5 = Larios | first5 = E. | last6 = Yacaman | first6 = M. J. | last7 = Tour | first7 = J. M. | year = 2014 | title = Enhanced Electrocatalysis for Hydrogen Evolution Reactions from WS₂ Nanoribbons | journal = Advanced Energy Materials | volume = 4| issue = 10| page = 1301875| doi = 10.1002/aenm.201301875 | bibcode = 2014AdEnM...401875L | s2cid = 96788831 }}

In addition, Tour has conducted research on the synthesis of graphene oxide,{{cite journal | last1 = Dimiev | first1 = A. M. | last2 = Alemany | first2 = L. B. | last3 = Tour | first3 = J. M. | year = 2013 | title = Graphene Oxide. Origin of Acidity, Its Instability in Water, and a New Dynamic Structural Model | journal = ACS Nano | volume = 7 | issue = 1| pages = 576–588 | doi = 10.1021/nn3047378 | pmid = 23215236 }}{{cite journal | last1 = Zhu | first1 = Y. | last2 = James | first2 = D. K. | last3 = Tour | first3 = J. M. | year = 2012 | title = New Routes to Graphene, Graphene Oxide and Their Related Applications | journal = Adv. Mater. | volume = 24 | issue = 36| pages = 4924–4955 | doi = 10.1002/adma.201202321 | pmid = 22903803 | bibcode = 2012AdM....24.4924Z | s2cid = 205246630 }} its mechanism of formation,{{cite journal | last1 = Dimiev | first1 = A. M. | last2 = Tour | first2 = J. M. | year = 2014 | title = Mechanism of Graphene Oxide Formation | journal = ACS Nano | volume = 8 | issue = 3| pages = 3060–3068 | doi = 10.1021/nn500606a | pmid = 24568241 | doi-access = free | hdl = 1911/77432 | hdl-access = free }} and its use in capturing radionuclides from water.{{cite journal | last1 = Romanchuk | first1 = A. Yu. | last2 = Slesarev | first2 = A. S. | last3 = Kalmykov | first3 = S. N. | last4 = Kosynkin | first4 = D. V. | last5 = Tour | first5 = J. M. | year = 2013 | title = Graphene Oxide for Effective Radionuclide Removal | journal = Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. | volume = 15 | issue = 7| pages = 2321–2327 | doi = 10.1039/c2cp44593j | pmid = 23296256 | bibcode = 2013PCCP...15.2321R }} Tour has developed oxide-based electronic memories that can also be transparent and built onto flexible substrates.{{cite journal | last1 = Yao | first1 = J. | last2 = Lin | first2 = J. | last3 = Dai | first3 = Y. | last4 = Ruan | first4 = G. | last5 = Yan | first5 = Z. | last6 = Li | first6 = L. | last7 = Zhong | first7 = L. | last8 = Natelson | first8 = D. | last9 = Tour | first9 = J. M. | year = 2012 | title = Highly Transparent Nonvolatile Resistive Memory Devices from Silicon Oxide and Graphene | journal = Nature Communications| volume = 3 | pages = 1–8 | doi = 10.1038/ncomms2110 | pmid = 23033077 | bibcode = 2012NatCo...3.1101Y | doi-access = free }} His group has also developed the use of porous metal structures to make renewable energy devices including batteries and supercapacitors, as well as electronic memories.{{cite journal | last1 = Yang | first1 = Y. | last2 = Ruan | first2 = G. | last3 = Xiang | first3 = C. | last4 = Wang | first4 = G. | last5 = Tour | first5 = J. M. | year = 2014| title = Flexible Three-Dimensional Nanoporous Metal-Based Energy Devices | journal = J. Am. Chem. Soc. | volume = 2014 | issue = 136| pages = 6187–6190 | doi = 10.1021/ja501247f | pmid = 24735477 | bibcode = 2014JAChS.136.6187Y }}

More recently, the Tour group's discovery of laser-induced graphene (LIG) has spurred innovations including an array of device structures made from LIG foams.{{Cite journal|last1=Stanford|first1=Michael G.|last2=Li|first2=John T.|last3=Chen|first3=Yuda|last4=McHugh|first4=Emily A.|last5=Liopo|first5=Anton|last6=Xiao|first6=Han|last7=Tour|first7=James M.|date=October 22, 2019|title=Self-Sterilizing Laser-Induced Graphene Bacterial Air Filter|journal=ACS Nano|language=en|volume=13|issue=10|pages=11912–11920|doi=10.1021/acsnano.9b05983|pmid=31560513|s2cid=203581358 |issn=1936-0851}} His lab's discovery of the flash graphene process in 2019 for the 10-millisecond bulk formation of graphene from carbon sources including coal, petroleum coke, biochar, food waste and mixed plastic waste, has implications in environmental stewardship through materials and waste upcycling.{{Cite journal|last1=Luong|first1=Duy X.|last2=Bets|first2=Ksenia V.|last3=Algozeeb|first3=Wala Ali|last4=Stanford|first4=Michael G.|last5=Kittrell|first5=Carter|last6=Chen|first6=Weiyin|last7=Salvatierra|first7=Rodrigo V.|last8=Ren|first8=Muqing|last9=McHugh|first9=Emily A.|last10=Advincula|first10=Paul A.|last11=Wang|first11=Zhe|date=January 2020|title=Gram-scale bottom-up flash graphene synthesis|journal=Nature|language=en|volume=577|issue=7792|pages=647–651|doi=10.1038/s41586-020-1938-0|pmid=31988511|bibcode=2020Natur.577..647L|issn=1476-4687|doi-access=free}}

Tour worked in molecular electronics and molecular switching molecules. He pioneered the development of the Nanocar, single-molecule vehicles with four independently rotating wheels, axles, and light-activated motors.{{cite journal | last1 = Chu | first1 = P.-L. | last2 = Wang | first2 = L.-Y. | last3 = Khatua | first3 = S. | last4 = Kolomeisky | first4 = A. | last5 = Link | first5 = S. | last6 = Tour | first6 = J. M. | year = 2013 | title = Synthesis and Single-Molecule Imaging of Highly Mobile Adamantane-Wheeled Nanocars | journal = ACS Nano | volume = 7 | issue = 1| pages = 35–41 | doi = 10.1021/nn304584a | pmid = 23189917 }} Tour was the first to show that Feringa-based motors{{cite journal | last1 = Carroll | first1 = GT | last2 = Pollard | first2 = MM | last3 = van Delden | first3 = RA | last4 = Feringa | first4 = BL | year = 2010 | title = Controlled rotary motion of light-driven molecular motors assembled on a gold surface | doi = 10.1039/C0SC00162G | journal = Chemical Science | volume = 1 | issue = 1| pages = 97–101 | hdl = 11370/4fb63d6d-d764-45e3-b3cb-32a4c629b942 | s2cid = 97346507 | url = https://www.rug.nl/research/portal/files/2613578/2010ChemSciCarroll1.pdf }} can be used to move a molecule on a surface using light{{cite journal | year = 2016 | title = Light-induced Translation of Motorized Molecules on a Surface | doi = 10.1021/acsnano.6b05650 | pmid = 27783488 | journal = ACS Nano | volume = 10 | issue = 12 | pages = 10945–10952 | last1 = Saywell | first1 = Alex | last2 = Bakker | first2 = Anne | last3 = Mielke | first3 = Johannes | last4 = Kumagai | first4 = Takashi | last5 = Wolf | first5 = Martin | last6 = García-López | first6 = Víctor | last7 = Chiang | first7 = Pinn-Tsong | last8 = Tour | first8 = James M. | last9 = Grill | first9 = Leonhard | url = http://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/38562/1/Saywell_ACS_Nano_Oct_2016.pdf | access-date = September 25, 2019 | archive-date = September 25, 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190925181605/http://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/38562/1/Saywell_ACS_Nano_Oct_2016.pdf | url-status = dead }} as opposed to electric current from an STM tip. His early career focused upon the synthesis of conjugated polymers and precise oligomers.{{cite journal | last1 = Tour | first1 = J. M. | year = 1996| title = Conjugated Macromolecules of Precise Length and Constitution. Organic Synthesis for the Construction of Nanoarchitectures | journal = Chem. Rev. | volume = 1996 | issue = 96| pages = 537–553 | doi=10.1021/cr9500287| pmid = 11848764 }}

Tour has also been involved in scientific outreach, such as NanoKids, an interactive learning DVD to teach children fundamentals of chemistry and physics. He also developed SciRave, a Dance Dance Revolution and Guitar Hero package to teach science concepts to middle school and elementary school students. He has testified before the US Congress on two occasions to warn about budget cuts.{{Cite magazine|last=Colapinto|first=John|author-link=John Colapinto|title=Material Question|url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/12/22/material-question|access-date=December 11, 2020|magazine=The New Yorker|date=December 14, 2014|language=en-us}}

In the Scientific American article "Better Killing Through Chemistry",{{cite journal |last= Musser |first= George |date=November 2001 |title= Better Killing through Chemistry: Buying chemical weapons material through the mail is quick and easy |journal= Scientific American |volume= 285 |issue= 6 |pages= 20–1 |url= http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?articleID=000E51F9-AA56-1C75-9B81809EC588EF21 |access-date= September 6, 2007|doi= 10.1038/scientificamerican1201-20 |pmid= 11759580 |url-access= subscription }} which appeared a few months after the September 11 attacks, Tour highlighted the ease of obtaining chemical weapon precursors in the United States.

Tour is on the board and working with companies including Weebit (silicon oxide electronic memory),{{Cite web|title=Board of Directors – Weebit – A Quantum Leap In Data Storage|url=https://weebit-nano.com/board-of-directors/|access-date=June 18, 2020|website=Weebit|language=en-US}} Dotz (graphene quantum dots),{{Cite web|title=About|url=https://www.dotz.tech/about/|access-date=June 18, 2020|website=Tag {{!}} Trace {{!}} Verify|language=en-US}} Zeta Energy (batteries),{{Cite web|title=Home|url=https://www.zetaenergy.com/|access-date=June 18, 2020|website=Zeta Energy|language=en}} NeuroCords (spinal cord repair),{{Cite web|title=Spinal cord repair with graphene-polymer nanoribbons|url=https://www.materialstoday.com/carbon/news/spinal-cord-repair-with-graphene-nanoribbons/|access-date=June 18, 2020|website=Materials Today}} Xerient (treatment of pancreas cancer), LIGC Application Ltd. (laser-induced graphene),{{Cite web|date=March 6, 2020|title=Guardian G-Volt masks use graphene and electrical charge to repel viruses|url=https://www.dezeen.com/2020/03/06/guardian-g-volt-face-mask-graphene-coronavirus-bacteria/|access-date=June 18, 2020|website=Dezeen|language=en}} Nanorobotics (molecular nanomachines in medicine),{{Cite web|title=Nanorobotics|url=http://nanorobotics.tech/|access-date=June 18, 2020|website=nanorobotics.tech}} Universal Matter Ltd. (flash graphene synthesis),{{Cite web|title=About Us|url=https://www.universalmatter.com/about-us/|access-date=June 18, 2020|website=Universal Matter|language=en-US}} Roswell Biotechnologies (molecular electronic DNA sequencing),{{Cite web|url=https://www.roswellbiotech.com/technology/|access-date=June 18, 2020|title=Technology | website=Roswell Biotechnologies|archive-date=June 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200620103813/https://www.roswellbiotech.com/technology/|url-status=dead}} and Rust Patrol (corrosion inhibitors).{{Cite web|title=Technology|url=https://rust-patrol.com/technology/|access-date=June 18, 2020|website=Rust Patrol|language=en-US}}{{Dead link|date=September 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

Tour's lab's research into graphene scaffolding gel has been shown to repair spinal cords of paralyzed mice.

Tour became a born-again Christian in graduate school, and in 2001 he signed the Discovery Institute's A Scientific Dissent from Darwinism statement that relies on pseudoscientific reasoning to offer various religiously motivated arguments against evolution. In a 2014 profile in The New Yorker, Tour was reported to have indicated that this signing "reflected only his personal doubts about how random mutation occurs at the molecular level. Although he ends e-mails with 'God bless', he says that, apart from a habit of praying for divine guidance, he feels that religion plays no part in his scientific work." Tour has subsequently become more outspoken about his scepticism regarding origin of life research, including a debate with science YouTuber Dave Farina at a May 2023 event at Rice University.{{Cite web |title=Rice's James Tour and YouTuber 'Professor Dave' debate the origins of life |url=https://www.ricethresher.org/article/2023/05/rices-james-tour-and-youtuber-professor-dave-debate-the-origins-of-life |access-date=2025-03-17 |website=Rice’s James Tour and YouTuber ‘Professor Dave’ debate the origins of life - The Rice Thresher |language=en-US}}

Tour has about 830 research publications and over 200 patents, with an H-index > 175 with total citations over 145,000 (Google Scholar, as of April 2025).{{cite web | url=https://www.aiche.org/community/bio/james-tour#:~:text=Chao%20Professor%20of%20Chemistry%20and,over%2077%2C000%20(Google%20Scholar) | title=James Tour | date=September 18, 2020 }}{{cite web | url=https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=YwoecRMAAAAJ&hl=en | title=James M. Tour }}{{Cite web|url=https://profiles.rice.edu/faculty/james-tour|title=James Tour | Faculty | The People of Rice | Rice University}}

• ACS Nano Lectureship Award by the American Chemical Society (2012){{cite journal | url=https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/nn300584t | doi=10.1021/nn300584t | title=Announcing the Recipients of the 2012 ACS Nano Lectureship Awards | date=2012 | last1=Buriak | first1=Jillian M. | last2=Maier | first2=Stefan A. | last3=Parak | first3=Wolfgang J. | last4=Wee | first4=Andrew T. S. | last5=Weiss | first5=Paul S. | journal=ACS Nano | volume=6 | issue=2 | pages=987–989 | url-access=subscription }}
• Listed as an ISI highly cited researcher (2016){{cite news |last1=Williams |first1=Mike |date=November 18, 2016 |title=9 Rice faculty on prominent 'highly cited' list |url=https://news.rice.edu/2016/11/18/9-rice-faculty-on-prominent-highly-cited-list/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191029170830/https://news.rice.edu/2016/11/18/9-rice-faculty-on-prominent-highly-cited-list/ |archive-date=October 29, 2019 |access-date=October 29, 2019 |publisher=Rice University}}
• Centenary Prize by the Royal Society of Chemistry (2020), "Awarded for innovations in materials chemistry, with applications in medicine and nanotechnology."https://www.rsc.org/prizes-funding/prizes/find-a-prize/centenary-prizes/previous-winners/
• Member of the National Academy of Engineering (2024), "For synthesis, fabrication, properties, applications, and commercialization of novel forms of carbon and their composites and derivatives."{{cite web |title=Dr. James Mitchell Tour |url=https://www.nae.edu/312973/Dr-James-Mitchell-Tour |website=National Academy of Egineering |language=en}}
• Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science{{Citation needed|date=March 2025}}

{{reflist}}

• {{official|http://www.jmtour.com/}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20031215122151/http://nanokids.rice.edu/ NanoKids]

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Tour, James}}

Category:1959 births

Category:American organic chemists

Category:Carbon scientists

Category:21st-century American chemists

Category:American nanotechnologists

Category:Syracuse University alumni

Category:Living people

Category:Purdue University alumni

Category:University of Wisconsin–Madison alumni

Category:Stanford University alumni

Category:Rice University faculty

Category:20th-century American chemists

Category:Scientists from New York City

Category:American Christians

Category:Messianic Jews